Q&A: Why should HR look at corporate language training?

In a rapidly changing workforce, foreign language skills provide the key to communicating across borders and operating both efficiently and profitably. Multilingual learning opens up intercultural dialogue and better communication amongst staff, which in turn increases efficiency, quality, accuracy and the smooth running of business operations. In some countries, such as the UK, there is an abundance of multicultural and multilingual talent from all over the world, yet many organizations are failing to ensure that skilled multilingual workers are identified, trained and positioned appropriately within the company. Also, there may be a significant pool of potential talent that is being underutilized due to insufficient language skills. Boosting business growth is not about finding additional revenue streams. Rather, it is about working with what we already have. Organizations have a long way to go before tapping into the profit potential of a culturally and linguistically diverse population.